Directors Max Stafford-Clark and Danny Boyle will be honoured for their Services to the Arts by the Critics’ Circle next week to celebrate the organisation’s centenary year.
The awards will be presented at the Critics’ Circle Centenary Celebration on 7 May at a special event hosted by actress Dame Janet Suzman to marks 100 years since the oldest organization of its kind, which aims to promote the art of criticism and represents more than 400 world-class writers, was first formed.
Stafford-Clark, who founded touring company Out Of Joint and is a former Artistic Director of the Royal Court, and theatre and film director Boyle, who is now arguably best known for his role as Artistic Director of the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympic Games, will be awarded the honours alongside three other cultural figures; Sir Nicholas Serota (Director of the Tate galleries and Chairman of the Turner Prize jury), former Artistic Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet Sir Peter Wright CBE and the late Sir Colin Davis CBE, who is honoured for his work as a conductor in many of the world’s leading opera houses.
Speaking about the honours, Simon Tait, President of the Critics’ Circle, said: “As 2013 is a momentous milestone in the history of the Critics’ Circle, it is only fitting that we should honour five leading figures from drama, music, film, dance and visual arts with acknowledging their Services to the Arts. They are all artists in their field, each unique in their work, but with a shared passion to offer their work to as many as possible – as do critics. Those who support and enjoy the arts always seek the views of critics who have the knowledge, experience, connections and a shared passion for the arts, which are as important and relevant today as they ever were.”